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CAAP: Safety priority after court stops Skyjet suspension

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CAAP: Safety priority after court stops Skyjet suspension
CAAP responds to a lower court TRO on Skyjet's suspension as the airline resumes flights

MANILA, Philippines – The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said that the safety of passengers is paramount for the government in response to a lower court ruling stopping the agency from suspending the operations of Magnum Air Incorporated (Skyjet) over safety issues.

A statement released by CAAP on Friday, May 22, said safety is a major concern of the regulator.

“For CAAP, the safety of passengers and our airports and airspace is paramount. The rules are simple,” the agency stated.

The regulator issued the statement after Judge Pedro Gutierrez of Branch 119 of the Pasay Regional Trial Court issued a 20-day temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing CAAP from implementing an order signed by CAAP director general William Hotchkiss III last May 15 indefinitely suspending the operations of Skyjet.

“It is very clear that the May 15 suspension order was irregular, not valid and issued without due process of law. The suspension was premature and done without investigation and without inspection of the airplane of the plaintiff; thus, violative of the constitutional and economic rights of and causing damage to the plaintiff,” Guitierrez said in the order.

Magnum Air president Dino Reyes Chua stated in the complaint that the suspension order signed claimed there was an intensive investigation done but CAAP was unable to produce an investigation report.

Skyjet is seeking P20 million ($447,977) in damages as the suspension has affected 2,600 passengers as well as its brand name.

Skyjet resumes operations

Following the TRO, SkyJet Airlines resumed its regular flights to Batanes (Basco), Coron, Palawan (Busuanga) and Boracay (Caticlan) on May 24. It will also resume its operations in the high-end resort club, Balesin Island.

Last May 18, Hotchkiss announced the suspension of the Airline Operator Certificate of Skyjet and South East Asian Airlines International Incorporated (Seair-I) due to safety concerns raised by aviation experts from the European Union (EU), and violations of the rules and standards prescribed under the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations.

The report submitted the by the EU Assessment Team included 8 observations on Skyjet covering different areas from Flight Data Monitoring and Quality Assurance to Airworthiness and Maintenance Control.

On the other hand, Seair-I yielded 15 safety observations covering different areas from management structure, accident prevention, and flight safety program to Flight Data Management.

Hotchkiss pointed out that the results of assessment visit made by the EU from April 16 to 24, and the investigation made by CAAP showed that safety concerns need to be properly given immediate corrective actions.

Seair-I flies to Basco in Batanes, Caticlan, and Tablas Island in Romblon from Manila with a fleet of two turbo-prop Dornier 328 aircraft.

Skyjet, owned by the Solar Group flies to Basco, Batanes as well as Busuanga in Palawan from Manila with its BAE 146-100 and Dornier 328 aircraft. – Rappler.com

 $1 = P44.65

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